Salute Mr Howard

12:01AM BST 02 Oct 2005

In the past week, there has been much gloating over the rejection of Michael Howard's proposals to change the rules governing Tory leadership contests. Mr Howard would be the first to admit that the failure of his proposals is a disappointment, especially on the eve of his last conference as party leader. However, it would be a deep injustice if this setback were to eclipse the tremendous contributions that Mr Howard has made to the Conservative cause.

Apart from a brief period on the backbenches between 1999 and 2001, Mr Howard has served on the Tory front bench since 1984, when he was made a PPS to the Solicitor-General. As Home Secretary between 1993 and 1997, he utterly transformed a job that had traditionally been managerial, and took on the creaking criminal justice system. His period at the Home Office should be a model to the next Conservative Government: he showed that Tory principles, implemented with courage and intellect, can challenge liberal orthodoxy and make life better for the voters (crime fell by 18 per cent on his watch).

As Tory leader, Mr Howard's achievement was formidable: it is no exaggeration to say that he saved his party. He inherited a balkanised basketcase, but brought unity to a party that seemed incapable of such maturity. He surrounded himself with able advisers, moved the party headquarters and restored professionalism to Tory politics.

His party, it is true, did not perform as well as he had hoped in this year's general election: the number of Tory MPs rose from 166 in 2001 to 198. But, given the shambles Mr Howard inherited and the mere 18 months he was granted in which to turn round its fortunes, this result was remarkable. He saw off the threat of UKIP and the Lib Dems' so-called "decapitation" strategy to remove prominent Conservative MPs. More importantly, he leaves the party in an electoral position upon which - under new captaincy - it can build confidently.

Mr Howard reminded his colleagues of the importance of clarity and honesty; he did not, in the end, persuade the public to trust the Tories afresh. But his example should be an inspiration to his successor. For that, and much else, his party should salute him this week.